Preparation for treating scaly bark



Fatented June 29, 1937 EATS TEN @FFEQE Engle A. Boele, Pasadena, Calif.

No Drawing. Application November 14, 1936, Serial No. 110,927

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of psorosis, commonly known in California as scaly An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive and effective treatment for citrus trees infected with psorosis.

This application is in part a continuation of my application, Serial No. 39,629, filed September Psorosis causes dying and scaling of the bark of affected trees in patches or areas which slowly wood is affected, becoming brown or stained. If the disease is not checked, the tree is seriously cussed in detail in of California, entitled Bark Diseases of Citrus Trees in California, by Dr. H. S. Fawcett, to which reference is made.

Heretofore, to the best of my knowledge, the only known method of combatting psorosis after has been to scrape away the diseased bark. This mode of treatment is described in detail in the aforementioned bulletin. It is of interest to note that Dr. Fawcett found scraping to be more important than the use of any tried fungicide or disinfectant and that the use of a disinfectant following scraping was recof precaution.

University aration, without scraping. preparation is as follows:

Lye 72 ounces Potassium permanganate 2 tablespoonfuls Lysol 2 ounces Salt 1 tablespoonful Water 12 gallons The lye is first dissolved in the water and allowed to stand for about fifteen hours. Then the potassium permanganate is separately dissolved in a small amount of water (about one quart) and added and the mixture allowed to stand for about an hour. Then the Lysol is 5 added and the mixture allowed to stand for another hour, after which the salt is dissolved and added and the mixture thoroughly strained. Following the addition of Lysol, a very fine fiocculent precipitate is produced, which readily remains in suspension and is not removed by the straining operation. Although I have not been able to ascertain positively, I believe this precipitate, which is apparently a phenolic compound resulting from interreaction between the Lysol and the potassium permanganate, and/or lye, is the active ingredient of my preparation.

Lysol is a trade-marked preparation which, as disclosed on page of volume 1 of The Chernical Formulary by Bennett, published by the 20 Chemical Publishing Company of New York, Inc., can be made by dissolving 25.5 grams of caustic soda in 140 c. c. of water, warming this and adding it to a warmed mixture of 500 c. c. cresylic acid and c. c. rozolin; stirring thoroughly and adding water to make 1000 c. c.

The preparation is sprayed on the trunk and limbs of the diseased trees in sufficient quantities to thoroughly wet the bark, care being taken to avoid wetting the foliage with the prep- 30 aration. If the leaves are sprayed they are burned and drop oif, after which new leaves come out.

If the tree is only slightly diseased, it is sufficient to spray the trunk from the roots up to. the branches but if badly infected, the main branches should. also be sprayed.

It does not appear to be essential that all infected bark areas be wetted with the preparation in order to effect a cure. Because of this fact, I am led to the belief that my preparation, or some ingredients thereof, penetrate into the sap stream of the tree and is carried by the sap to distant limbs and twigs, becoming elfective wherever the disease exists. 5

Ordinarily, several treatments as described, at intervals of two to three months apart, are required to effect a cure, the number depending upon the condition of the tree.

I have determined, and believe it is generally recognized in the art, that none of the ingredients of my preparation, when used alone, is effective against psorosis when merely applied to a tree without first scraping away the diseased bark. In view of these findings, I am convinced that the ingredients of my preparation, when combined, perform a function in the treatment of psorosis which they are incapable of performing when used separately.

The invention is applicable to the treatment of shell bark in lemon trees, as well as scaly bark in orange trees, and in fact, is applicable to any tree suffering from psorosis or kindred discases.

I claim:

1. A preparation for treating psorosis in citrus trees comprising a dilute aqueous mixture of lye, Lysol and potassium permanganate.

2. A preparation for treating psorosis in citrus trees comprising a mixture of lye, Lysol, potassium permanganate and water in the approximate proportion of 72 ounces of lye, 2 ounces of Lyso 2 tablespoonfuls of potassium permanganate, and 12 gallons of water.

ENGLE A. BOELE. 

